It is almost a cliché to say that Europeans are worried about the economy and that ‘soft’ topics like human rights do not interest them. And that, consequently, they should not be a priority for the European Union – or at least not until its economic problems have been solved.

Nothing, though, could be further from the truth. Eurobarometers show consistently that human rights are a topic high on people’s agenda. And they look to the European Parliament to defend them: 56% of Europeans say human rights should be a priority for the Parliament.

We need to ensure that human rights continue to be a lynchpin of the Parliament’s work, safeguarding the values that make Europe rich, diverse and vibrant.

The Parliament has done much to promote the human-rights agenda since the last election in 2009. MEPs have pushed to ensure the private data we provide online is not misused, either by governments or by private companies. After revelations of large-scale abuse on both sides of the Atlantic, the Parliament swiftly launched an enquiry into the mass surveillance of EU citizens, recommending the development of an independent European data cloud and demanding protection for whistleblowers.

The Parliament has also worked to combat violence against women. MEPs called this year for an EU-wide strategy, including training for police. A recent survey by the Fundamental Rights Agency showed how necessary action is: a third of women in the EU have been physically or sexually abused.

These are issues that affect and concern millions of people. And the European Parliament ensures that their voice is heard.

The importance of being heard has become particularly important in the aftermath of the economic crisis. It is those in the most precarious economic situation that are most at risk of human-rights infringements. As legal aid has been cut in many countries by austerity programmes, they are also frequently the ones who have most difficulty gaining justice.

It is crucial that we keep this in mind when we vote. Not all the issues the next Parliament will vote on will make headlines. But if your privacy is important to you; if you want to ensure that you do not face obstacles setting up a business because you are a woman, or young, or disabled; or you want access to support if you become a victim of crime while abroad – then the Parliament’s work will be important to you.